Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled Fiji's democratic institutions, and refused to hold elections.

Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

slightly smaller than New Jersey

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

deforestation; soil erosion

includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited

944,720 (July 2010 est.)

21.92 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

5.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

-2.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

2.63 children born/woman (2010 est.)

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Fijian 57.3% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.6%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 3.9% (European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 census)

Christian 64.5% (Methodist 34.6%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other 10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified 0.3%, none 0.7% (2007 census)

English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani

4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

10 October 1970 (from the UK)

Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

enacted on 25 July 1997; effective on 28 July 1998; note - it encourages multiculturalism and makes multiparty government mandatory

based on British system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

21 years of age; universal

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (32 seats; 14 members appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, 9 appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister, 8 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 1 appointed on the advice of the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 members reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1 reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts

Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT [Sitiveni RABUKA] (primarily Fijian), and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP (became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR; National Federation Party or NFP [Pramond RAE] (primarily Indian); Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]; Party of the Truth or POTT; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United Peoples Party or UPP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]

Group Against Racial Discrimination or GARD [Dr. Anirudk SINGH] (for restoration of a democratic government); Viti Landowners Association

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C (suspended), CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the blue symbolizes the Pacific ocean and the Union Jack reflects the links with Great Britain; the shield - taken from Fiji's coat of arms - depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports, remittances from Fijians working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with 400,000 to 500,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union markets but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity but is not efficient. Fiji's tourism industry was damaged by the December 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. In 2007 tourist arrivals were down almost 6%, with substantial job losses in the service sector, and GDP dipped. The coup has created a difficult business climate. The EU has suspended all aid until the interim government takes steps toward new elections. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's inability to manage its budget. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have decreased significantly. Fiji's current account deficit reached 23% of GDP in 2006.

$3.675 billion (2009 est.)

$3.77 billion (2008 est.)

$3.773 billion (2007 est.)

$3.06 billion (2009 est.)

6.32% (31 December 2008)

9.25% (31 December 2007)

7.97% (31 December 2008)

9.01% (31 December 2007)

$738.6 million (31 December 2008)

$1.042 billion (31 December 2007)

$1.012 billion (31 December 2008)

$1.088 billion (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$1.948 billion (31 December 2007)

$NA (31 December 2009)

$568.2 million (31 December 2008)

$522.2 million (31 December 2007)

sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish

tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries

928 million kWh (2007 est.)

863 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

11,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

2,455 bbl/day (2007 est.)

20,340 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

-$507 million (2007 est.)

$1.202 billion (2006)

sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

US 15.21%, Australia 12.11%, UK 11.23%, Samoa 5.39%, Tonga 4.74%, Japan 4.44% (2009)

$3.12 billion (2006)

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals

Singapore 27.27%, Australia 19.36%, NZ 15.15%, China 6.92%, India 5.23%, Thailand 4.25% (2009)

$127 million (2004 est.)

Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.7313 (2006), 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003)

Fiji TV, a publicly-traded company, operates a free-to-air channel as well as the Sky Fiji and Sky Pacific multi-channel pay-TV services; state-owned commercial company, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Ltd, operates 6 radio stations - 2 public broadcasters and 4 commercial broadcasters with multiple repeaters; 5 radio stations with repeaters operated by Communications Fiji, Ltd; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2009)

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces (2009)

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2010)